A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has expanded the Game of Thrones franchise with some of its best characters yet. The first season of the Game of Thrones spinoff wisely set itself apart from the other shows in this universe with a smaller scale and a more comedic tone. It also managed to make its new characters shine.
From members of notable houses to the heroic knight at the center of the story, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was filled with interesting, complex, and terrific characters who made the world of Westeros even richer. However, out of all the new characters introduced in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1, these stand out as the best.
Prince Baelor
Throughout the Game of Thrones franchise, it has been established that there are both good and bad Targaryens. Prince Baelor fits into the former category as the next in line to the Iron Throne and a man who seems as though he would do a good job in the role. That makes his storyline all the more impactful.
Baelor seems like a man conflicted about how his house has tarnished their reputation as rulers of Westeros. However, he also seeks to redeem that name by standing for what is right and fighting for noble causes.
Lyonel Baratheon
Baratheons have been a big part of the Game of Thrones franchise since the beginning, but Lyonel Baratheon might be the most entertaining. Like Robert Baratheon, he is a man who enjoys drinking and adventure a lot more than he likes being a lord.
The oddball friendship he forms with Dunk brings a lot of the humor in the early episodes, but he also stands by him in the battle. As much as he can stand up for the right thing, watching him dance drunkenly with Dunk was one of the comedic highlights of the season.
Prince Aerion
Every story needs a good villain, and Prince Aerion Targaryen fits the bill very nicely. While not as sadistic as the likes of Ramsay Bolton, Aerion is a great successor to the likes of Joffrey Baratheon from Game of Thrones. He is a spoiled and entitled young prince who likes to present himself as more impressive than he actually is.
Aerion is the perfect character for fans to hate, yet he also carries an interesting complexity. He is proud to be a Targaryen and wants to see the family hold onto their powerful legacy, even if they no longer have dragons. Finn Bennett nails his performance, playing Aerion as someone bored by the rest of the world being so beneath him.
Egg
Egg, aka Aegon Targaryen, is the latest in the long list of young Game of Thrones characters who stole the show. Introduced as the eager wannabe squire, Egg is heartwarming in his young dreams and hilarious in his blunt way of speaking to Dunk. His true identity makes him even more compelling as the black sheep in a family that he seems not to fit into.
His relationship with Dunk only makes him all the more entertaining. It is moving how he seems to find his place with this other misfit, forming a brotherly bond while also taking his role as a squire seriously. However, the fact that Egg refuses to be anything less than Dunk’s equal makes that dynamic even funnier.
Dunk
Dunk makes for a very different hero than we are used to seeing in Game of Thrones. It’s true that he has the same sense of honor as the likes of Ned Stark and Jon Snow, but he is also naïve, awkward, and unconfident despite his imposing size. It immediately makes him a more interesting protagonist to follow.
Peter Claffey gives a star-making performance in the lead role, nailing the comedic elements while ensuring that we are falling in love with Dunk rather than just laughing at him. As the season goes on, the endearing nature of Dunk only grows, showing signs of the hero he will become. At the sam time, he stays grounded.